The first shipment of Brewgooder's paid forward beers for NHS workers has left Glasgow in time for the weekend, all with individual messages of support and appreciation.

In total, around 12,500 will be delivered, with a few hundred in the first batch this week.

The social enterprise has set up a system on its website where supporters can donate the cost of a four-pack of beer or cola and submit a message of support, and an NHS employee can come onto the Brewgooder platform and claim it when they are ready.

The initiative is one way to say thank you to NHS staff during the coronavirus crisis, the firm said.

More than 3,000 NHS staff are to receve free drinks as part of the initiative.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Scottish biotech firm to help develop Covid-19 antibody test

The donation covers most of the costs incurred to brew, pack and deliver the beer and message to an NHS employee.

The firm is not making any profit from the scheme.

Alan Mahon, founder of the Edinburgh-based business, said: "At Brewgooder, social good is the heart of what we do, and acts of social good have never been needed more than now. Typically we brew and sell beer to help fund clean drinking water projects across the globe.

“While this remains our core mission, when we’re needing support on our doorstep, we felt it was right to do our part.

"So, help us recognise the everyday commitment of our NHS champions and buy them one on us, for when they're ready to enjoy it.”

The firm's drinks are still also available in selected Co-op, Asda and Tesco stores.

St Andrews University is facing a financial crisis, as the higher education sector battles with major funding shortfalls due to coronavirus.

The principal of Scotland's oldest university said it faced a "hole in our financial position" of at least £25 million - described as "as serious a financial crisis as our university has faced in modern times".

READ MORE: Ian McConnell: What room for hope amid the Covid-19 economic wreckage?

Urgent talks are being held between universities and the Scottish Government to discuss financial support.

The Guardian reported St Andrews' principal, Professor Sally Mapstone, sent a letter to staff on Thursday warning difficult decisions would have to be made.

She said: "I need to make you all aware that, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the university is already facing a hole in our financial position of over £25 million this year.

"This is largely made up of losses in research grants through the lockdown period, the loss of conference and accommodation rentals over the summer, and our decision to act in a socially responsible manner by being one of the first universities in the UK to release students from their accommodation contracts.

"It does not take account of further losses to revenue which we would reasonably anticipate incurring as the global Covid-19 crisis continues.

"It is as serious a financial crisis as our university has faced in modern times, and it will mean that we cannot do everything you want or expect us to, and that we have to take some very difficult decisions about our future."

Opec and Russia have agreed a deal to cut global oil production to 10 million barrels a day until July 1, and then eight million a day until the end of year, Saudi state TV has reported.

The move is aimed at limiting a crash in prices that has pushed energy companies toward bankruptcy.

READ MORE: Graeme Roy: 'There is simply no precedent for the situation we find ourselves in'

The producers met via video conference into the early hours, but other reports suggested the deal was was hanging in the balance, with Kuwait's oil minister saying Mexico had disrupted the proposed accord.

Saudi state television reported the terms of the deal on Friday, adding that it also called for a six million barrel per day cut for 16 months beginning in 2021.

Oil prices have collapsed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
US President Donald Trump earlier said he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and King Salman of Saudi Arabia about the negotiations.

"They're getting close to a deal, that's Opec and many other countries outside of Opec, and we'll see what happens," he said at a White House news briefing.

Shops across Scotland are closing. Newspaper sales are falling. But we’ve chosen to keep our coverage of the coronavirus crisis free because it’s so important for the people of Scotland to stay informed during this difficult time.

However, producing The Herald's unrivalled analysis, insight and opinion on a daily basis still costs money, and we need your support to sustain our trusted, quality journalism.

To help us get through this, we’re asking readers to take a digital subscription to The Herald. You can sign up now for just £2 for two months.

If you choose to sign up, we’ll offer a faster loading, advert-light experience – and deliver a digital version of the print product to your device every day. Click here to help The Herald.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/

Thank you, and stay safe.